Coronavirus York updates; 23rd February 2021

Deaths

Three additional hospital deaths have been reported. One occurred on Saturday and two on Sunday.

Test Results

Eighteen positive test results announced. That is the lowest for a few days. Brings the cumulative total to 11,767.

As forecast the infection rate is rising. The rate /100k population now stands at 67.9. That is slightly down on the figure reported yesterday. However the reduction reflects just one case compared to yesterdays figures.

However, positive test results – already in the pipeline – suggest that the rate will rise to 75 before the end of the week.

The current case number spike is not without precedent.

On the day that Lockdown 2 ended (2/12/20) weekly case numbers stood at 23.14. A couple of days earlier they had fallen to 19.43.

Case numbers in North Yorkshire have stared to fall again. However, at regional (Yorkshire) level, for the fifth successive day, an increase in case numbers has been reported

Neighbourhoods

Now five neighbourhoods have fewer than 3 cases in each.

Figures are quite volatile

Vaccinations

Tests

4,435 PCR test were carried out during the week ending 18th February 2021.

Of these tests, 3.4% were positive. That is the same percentage as was reported yesterday.

1546 “lateral flow” tests were carried out on 22nd February.

Hospitals

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is currently treating 80 Covid-19 inpatients.

11 Covid patients are being treated in intensive care.

1,968 Covid patients have been discharged since the start of the pandemic.

York calls to retain its own council as Government launches consultation

City of York Council says it is preparing a strong response to a Government consultation, launched today, on the future of local government in York and North Yorkshire.

See the source image — *click image to complete government survey*

The Council says, retaining City of York Council alongside a new unitary authority for the rest of North Yorkshire will pave the way to quicker devolution, additional investment into York and minimal disruption to Covid-19 recovery.

The consultation will consider two proposals to remove 2-tier local government in North Yorkshire:

The East/West model proposed by the six of the seven District Councils which removes all existing councils in North Yorkshire and York and merges them into two new unitary authorities;
The North Yorkshire proposal to create a single new unitary authority covering North Yorkshire County Council’s existing footprint, with York remaining as a unitary authority in its own right.

Unfortunately the on line survey form doesn’t make it easy to make out the case for “no change”.

However ,there is an “any other comments” section in which residents can say that they are opposed to handing over powers to a North Yorkshire elected Mayor.

The case can also be made there for no change at least until we are free of the repercussions of the pandemic.

Does high density development have a post pandemic future?

Developers have submitted their final proposals for building on the remaining plot on Hungate.

The latest planning application would see an increase in the number of flats proposed from 169 to 226. No on-site parking will be provided. There will be some ground floor retail units.

The announcement comes hard on the heels of a planning application which would see 211 apartments constructed on Rougier Street.

While a lot of people will be pleased to see the Hungate development – which started over 10 years ago – completed, there will be some scepticism about the number of apartments being provided on a relatively small site.

The lockdown restrictions have highlighted the need for access to safe open space. Unfortunately land values – established during a very different economic climate – make the provision of the alternative to flats – terraced homes with private gardens – financially challenging.

Barbican Road development site

This may be why the City center’s worst eyesore continues to lie empty and abused.

The site at the junction of Barbican Road and Paragon Street has been derelict for more than a decade. Originally intended for use as a student block, it has failed to attract serious developer interest.

Now it provides an embarrassing backdrop to the historic City Walls.

Perimeter hoardings now covered in graffiti.

Directly opposite – on the other side of the Walls – is the Willow House former elderly persons home which has been unused for over 4 years. The Council has still not responded to calls for the building to be used as temporary accommodation for the homeless.

The York Council itself is planning to build hundreds of apartments on the York Central site as well as at Castle Mills.

The next year will tell us how many people want to occupy small flats in high density city centre developments.

Post pandemic, we suspect that the option might be losing some of its appeal.